The bonds between the women in this book are beautifully described and nuanced. The author painted Barranquilla, the food, the language, the culture and the weather in such vivid detail that it felt like I was there myself. 
The protagonist is torn between her home in Colombia where she feels rooted and her life in New York which is full of potential. She is also torn between living up to expectations of others and finding her own path. I felt for the protagonist.
The only thing that was not for me was the romance part of the novel. I didn't understand the pull Rafael had on Violeta. Maybe it's because we spent very little time on the page with him before she emigrated to the US. I had a similar feeling about Liam. I wish the author had let actions speak for them rather than describing who they are as people through Violeta's eyes

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced reader copy